In one year, single-use plastic bags--which have been found in disturbing amounts in the stomachs of dead turtles, whales, and other wildlife--will be banned from the Big Island of Hawaii. According to this Associated Press article, Mayor Bill Kenoi signed a plastic bag ordinance into law on Tuesday.

The Hawaii County Council passed the bag ban last December, prohibiting businesses from distributing single-use plastic bags, and has been waiting for the Mayor's action since then.

In 2008, an earlier version of the ordinance was passed by council but vetoed by then mayor Dixie Kaetsu. Thanks to all our members and supporters who took action and sent in a letter urging the Mayor to sign the bill!

Honolulu County is now the only county left in Hawaii without an ordinance on plastic bags, but past efforts to ban plastic bags in both Honolulu City Council and the state legislature are likely to be resurrected in the future.